Drunk judge suspended for kissing attorney, swearing in court!

London, January 14 (ANI): A British judge “fortified” with brandy was suspended for six months after kissing a lawyer, swearing at an usher, and humiliating a prosecutor, a disciplinary tribunal heard. Deputy District Judge Esther Cunningham, appearing as a lawyer in the hearing, swayed and hung on to a table to get a hold of herself while interrupting proceedings. A London hearing was told she was also intoxicated during a legal training course and said she wanted to fist the chairman of her legal governing body. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard Cunningham had participated as a solicitor in the Lincolnshire hearing on November 8, 2006, representing her cousin. George Marriott, for, revealed how Cunningham threw foul-mouthed comments at an usher after he refused to reveal the names of the magistrates to her. She also swore at the prosecution lawyer, calling him by an obscene term, reports the Telegraph. He said: “The respondent forcibly kissed another solicitor and aggressively demanded to know the identity of other people within the courtroom. “She behaved as if drunk and refused sit down until encouraged to do so by her assistant. “She interrupted the magistrates whilst they gave their ruling and was escorted out of the courtroom by a security guard.” Cunningham, who had initially denied the claims, later admitted to having consumed brandy “to fortify herself”. In addition to the six-month-ban, Cunningham was also ordered to pay 6,200 pounds after confessing to a series of charges including tainting the profession into disrepute. (ANI)